THE AIRSHIPS is a unique and exciting Channel 4 series which explores the largest flying machines ever built and their dynamic role in global history. Central to this extraordinary story is archive film from libraries around the globe, much of it rarely seen. Paintings, still photographs, segments from feature films are seamlessly blended with contemporary footage to create a rich visual tapestry. Viewers are taken on a magical journey into the past to witness the birth of lighter-than-air dirigibles, to meet the early pioneers who sought to navigate the skies in search of fame and fortune. Our cameras trace the footsteps of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the' father' of the giant airships, as he worked with passion and zeal to create a powerful weapon of war for the Fatherland. Extensive use is made of computer-generated images throughout the series to recreate selected flights and tragic disasters. Large scale, radio controlled flying replicas of key airships were filmed to provide the base material for computer enhanced scenes designed to meld with actuality footage, still photographs and paintings. A range of special, visual effects breathe new life into the story of these giant, majestic flying machines.